hr20 problem with recorded shows

[darthemma]

Ok, I talked to the Directv tech - he was actually intelligent and treated me like a reasonably smart person (that's not always been my experience with Directv).

I told him what I had done so far (unplugging and resetting with the red reset button). He told me to try the "reset everything" option (under system settings). So, I did that and it seems to be working okay now. He promised me if the problem happens again that they'd send me a new HD DVR.

I noticed something peculiar before I did the "reset everything." When I turned on the box and paused it, it looked like it had video in the buffer. It didn't used to do that. It doesn't do that now. Just thought I'd mention that.

Anyway, thanks for your help. I really want to keep the 2 hr20s I have for now until the HD Directivos become available next year. When that happens, I'll be contacting you to buy 2.

Thanks again, Michael.

[WK-Michael]

Hmm. Maybe it installed new software after the update.

[darthemma]

Well, the problem came back. I called Directv. The are sending me a new box and I have to send the HR20 back to them. He said he thinks the hard drive is failling (just like you said, Michael). I just wish it hadn't taken a month of back and forth to get them to do it.

Anyway, they are shipping me an HR22-100C-R HD DVR via 2 day FedEx. I don't use the OTA antennas on the HR20 anyway. I told them that I thought they should eat the shipping too. He was able to take $10 off the normal $19.95, so I will pay only $9.95 plus tax to have the new box shipped and they are paying the postage to return the old HR20. Fortunately, I didn't have to extend my service contract with them to do this. I mentioned that four-letter word "DISH" and that made them very cooperative.

Just thought I'd let you know how it all turned out. This indeed was a failing hard drive.

By the way, when the new Directivos come out next year, I'll be getting 2 of them from you guys. I like the tivo interface much better than the directv software.

Thanks again for your help and happy holidays.

[WK-Michael]

Thanks for the update!

Yup - we can't wait for the new boxes also . . .

[Naturboy99]

The problems with stuttering on my HR-20 seemed to have coincided with the software upgrade that allowed the double play feature.

It does seem to be more prevalent on some channels than others. For example, my HD coverage of the Masters on CBS was gorgeous and never stuttered once. I watched almost all the coverage with lots of FF and RWs.

But anything on ESPN and my local fox for two examples stutter pretty consistently, sometimes very badly.

The twist is that I do think my harddrive is on it's last legs, I'm getting a grinding sound from it maybe 10% of the time now, whether the unit is on or not.

But it is just so odd that this all seems to have initiated with the software upgrade.

Any ideas on if any of this sounds like something you've heard of before?